Why Choose Us
What makes us different
Health-tested
We prioritise the quality of our puppies through OFA and PennHIP testing all of our breeding dogs, and only breeding dogs with adequate results. This minimises the chances of hip/elbow dysplasia being passed down to their offspring, saving our buyers thousands of dollars.
Supportive
We prioritise successful ownership through staying in touch and supporting every buyer through any challenges they may encounter with their puppy. We are an ASDCA code of ethics breeder and are committed to supporting every buyer and assisting them in re-homing if ever necessary.
Registered
We prioritise reliability through only breeding fully registered dogs and registering all puppies within the litter. This ensures we are truly breeding Anatolians and no other breed has been added along the way. We can also track lineage and ensure we are only introducing lineage which will benefit the breed.
Intentional
We prioritise well-tempered dogs through intentionally breeding Anatolians with supreme guardian instincts, personalities, and trainability. This is done by strict evaluations and years of having each dog prove themself to us. Litters are planned years upon years in advance to produce the best Anatolian we can.
Our Breeding Program
What we strive for
Our breeding program is intense, intentional, and impactful. Litters are planned years in advance with the breed's best interests and buyer's needs in mind. This sets our program, puppies, and dogs from anything else in Canada.
Step 1: Ensure we are the right breeder for you
We believe the breeder a buyer purchases from will greatly affect their experience with their dog. As such, we ask any potential buyers to read through our information packet to ensure we are the right breeder for your needs and family. To get the info packet, please follow the link here and fill out your email address and name on the next page.
Step 2: Apply for one of our puppies
We strive to be a good neighbour and serve all of our buyers. The best way we can do this is by getting to know our buyers. After reading through the info packet, the next step is to fill out our online application (link is in the info packet). Our application is pretty detailed! However, all information will be used to match buyers with a suitable puppy.
Step 3: Secure your puppy from us
After filling out the application, we will call buyers to discuss their application and any questions. If both buyer and breeder feel an Anatolian would be suitable, buyers can choose to proceed with a puppy from us. By doing so, we require a non-refundable $500 deposit and a signed copy of our contract.
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Can I reserve a male?Yes and no. In our application, we ask for gender preferences and will take those into consideration when matching puppies to their home. However, we look at personality before gender, as this will make a much bigger impact in most situations. That being said, there are a select few situations where gender will be prioritised. Furthermore, we cannot force a buyer to take a female when they want a male. However, we strongly encourage all buyers to look at personality before gender. This is a mistake we made with our first Anatolian and it put us in a much harder position than if we would have considered personality first.
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What does your selection process look like?Our selection process is as follows: Weeks 0-5: Puppies are introduced to several different animals, dogs, and objects. Videos are taken every-other day, so we have records to look back on for personality consistencies. Week 6: Puppies are exposed to various new things daily and individual videos are taken of their initial reactions. All videos are sent to potential buyers and used for by us to match puppies to their most suitable home. Week 7: Puppies are evaluated for their temperament according to the Volhard's Puppy Attitude Test (PAT) and conformation through puppy stacking. Videos will be taken of both processes and shared with potential buyers. Week 7: Buyers are sent videos, pictures, health records, and personality descriptions for 2-3 suitable puppies the night before selection day. On selection day, buyers will meet with us via zoom or in person to go over suitable puppies, answer any questions, and select their puppy.
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Can I join the wait list?Probably! The steps to join our wait list are as follows: Inquiry stage: Read through our information packet (here) Fill out the application form (here) Chat with us regarding you application and ask us any questions Commitment stage: Send us a nonrefundable $500 deposit Send us a signed copy of our contract Stay up to date by following us on FaceBook (here) or subscribing to our newsletters (here)
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How much does a Bar JO puppy cost?$2,500, which is split between a $500 deposit and the remaining $2,000 at time of pickup or shipment. Please keep in mind that this price is only valid for buyers who join our wait list by December 31, 2025.
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At what age can I take my puppy home?Puppies are off to their homes at 8-9 weeks. After 9 weeks, we can keep puppies longer for an additional fee.
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Will Anatolains wander?Yes, Anatolians, like most LGD breeds, will wander. This is why it is so important to have proper fencing in place. If no boundary (fencing) is in place, Anatolians won't know what your expectations are leading into a disaster. If you would like to learn more about how to fence Anatolians, please visit this article here.
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What are Anatolian Shepherds?Anatolians are an ancient breed, with lineage traced all the way back to 2000 B.C. They were originally bred in modern-day Turkey to protect shepherds' flocks from predators such as wolves and bears. Nowadays, Anatolians are still an asset to many Turkish farmers and are becoming steadily more popular across North America. It actually wasn't until the 1930s that the first Anatolian was imported to the United States and they didn't gain popularity until the 1970s. For more information or to see if an Anatolian would be a good fit for your family, please visit here.
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How big will Anatolians get?Size will vary from breeder to breed, but generally speaking, males usually mature between 30-36 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 100-180 pounds. Females are slightly smaller generally measuring between 28-34 inches and weighing between 90-160 pounds. Our Anatolians are generally a little bit larger than most because of the Turkish lines several of our breeding dogs have.
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Do Anatolians make good city/town dogs?No, Anatolians are not suitable to live in a city/town. We require homes to have at least 2 acres of fenced land for their Anatolian to have access to 24/7. We won’t place puppies with families who live in town/apartments simply because instinctively an Anatolian wouldn’t thrive in this situation. They need space to roam freely and something to guard- whether that’s livestock, family, or property.
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What are Anatolians biggest health issue?Hip/elbow dysplasia. This is a health concern that is extremely costly to fix and, in some cases, could have been prevented. That is why we OFA and PennHIP test our breeding dogs for dysplasia before breeding them. It ensures they have minimal chances of passing down this health issue to their offspring, saving our buyers potentially thousands of dollars. To learn more about OFA and PennHIP click here.
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What should I feed my Anatolian?A high-quality, large/giant breed of dog kibble. We personally feed our Anatolians a high-quality brand of kibble called Inukshuk. If you would like more information on feeding Anatolians, please click here.
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At what age can I spay/neuter my Anatolian?18-24 months. We strongly advise against spaying/neutering anytime before 18. Their joints are growing and developing so fast that fixing them before then often results in joint issues and increases other health concerns like cancer.
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How do I keep my Anatolian healthy?Follow the recommendations/instructions given by your vet. In addition to that, provide Anatolian with clean fresh water 24/7. Feed an appropriate amount of a suitable (large/giant breed) and high-quality dog food. Ensure dog gets enough exercise and physical stimulation. Schedule regular vet visits to have your Anatolian vaccinated, dewormed, and examed as directed by your vet.
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How should I train my Anatolian?How owners train their Anatolian will vary drastically between homes, however, here are a few rules of thumb: Spend a little time each day obedience training your Anatolian; consider obedience classes also. Set expectations and boundaries; have a goal for your dog in mind and boundaries in place to help you achieve that end goal. Stay consistent and firm; don't allow something one day and not the next. Train your dog for town too; practice leash manners, interacting with new people/places, going into buildings, etc. If you would like more training tips, click here.